The Art of the Russian Matryoshka by Rett Ertl

The book is the complete account of the history, production, varieties, and creators of the nesting doll that has become a symbol of Russian folk culture, if not Russia itself. Contributing to the history are commissioned studies from three of Russia's leading authorities on toys and folk art. The book includes 330 color plates, 200 of which are carefully selected examples of dolls. The examples include: historical dolls from museums in Russia; factory products made throughout the Soviet period in the villages of Sergiev Posad, Polkhovsky Maidan, Semyonov, Kirov, and Nolinsk; and artwork of independent artists, photographed in several of the artists' home-studios, in private collections, and in the inventory of importer-author Rett Ertl.

Rett Ertl is a career-long Russia hand. He began studies of Russian language in high school and continued through Stanford University. Rett holds two masters degrees from Columbia University, one in Russian literature and one in international relations. Professionally, from his first job in trade with the Soviet Union, to IBM marketing representative there, to his consulting projects in privatization, Rett has been focused on Russia and the former Soviet republics. His company, Tolstoys Inc. of Boulder, Colorado, has specialized in importing the traditional handcrafts of Russia, including matryoshki, since 1991. Rett lives in Boulder with his wife Tania. They have a son and a daughter, both now grown.
Rick Hibberd worked in Moscow for three years as a consultant in advertising and marketing. His clients included American donor agencies, private corporations, and arts organizations in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Russia. Previously, Rick founded an advertising and design agency in New York City, which he managed for twenty years. He has produced publications for clients throughout his career, but this is the first with his name on the cover. Rick lives in New York with his wife Gail.